Neuroscience Research Academy

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July 7 - July 27, 2019

The Neuroscience Research Academy explores the biological foundations of the brain, progressing from the cellular foundations of the neuron to an understanding of the sensory systems, and culminating with higher-order cognitive functions such as memory, emotion and morality. Taught by members of Penn’s Biological Basis of Behavior program, the Neuroscience Academy introduces students to this cutting-edge field in both research and medicine, which has provided important insights into understanding the mind in both health and disease.

If you attend a School District of Philadelphia public or charter high school, you may be eligible to attend a Penn Summer Academy free of charge with a Penn Summer Scholarship.

Features

Throughout the three-week program, daily morning and afternoon lectures introduce primary neuroscientific topics, while guest lecturers from Penn’s distinguished neuroscience faculty join the group for discussions and presentations. In the afternoons, students participate in hands-on laboratory activities where they learn important experimental techniques. During this time, students can visit several active research laboratories. Additionally, students engage in a small group journal club where they gain experience reading the neuroscience literature related to a particular topic of choice, and which culminates in a group presentation. Friday field trips further the students’ understanding of the brain in a fun and educational setting.

One year of high school biology and one year of high school chemistry are required for application

Faculty

Program Director: Kristen Hipolit, PhDDr. Hipolit is an Advanced Lecturer in the Critical Writing Program at the University of Pennsylvania, where she teaches freshmen writing seminars that are focused on neuroscience topics. For several years, she was also an instructor for Penn’s post-baccalaureate pre-health program, where she taught introduction to biology and cell biology and biochemistry courses. Dr. Hipolit received her PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Pennsylvania and has been teaching at Penn since 2012.